The First Occurrence of a Basal Tyrannosauroid in Southeast Asia: Dental Evidence from the Upper Jurassic of Northeastern Thailand

Wongwech  Chowchuvech; Sita Manitkoon; Phornphen Chanthasit; Chatchalerm Ketwetsuriya

doi:10.58837/tnh.24.1.261261

Authors

Wongwech Chowchuvech Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, THAILAND
Sita Manitkoon Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, THAILAND: Vertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44150, THAILAND
Phornphen Chanthasit Sirindhorn Museum, Department of Mineral Resources, Kalasin 46140, THAILAND
Chatchalerm Ketwetsuriya Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, THAILAND

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58837/tnh.24.1.261261

Keywords:

Dinosauria, Theropod, isolated teeth, Phu Kradung Formation, Mesozoic Era

Abstract

Isolated theropod teeth are one of the most common vertebrate fossils that have been found in the Khorat Group of Thailand. Furthermore, several isolated teeth have been discovered from the Upper Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation, located in Phu Noi locality of Kalasin Province, Northeastern Thailand. Three of those theropod teeth from the Phu Noi locality show unique dental features that can be distinguished from previous discovered metriacanthosaurid theropod, including the lateral teeth with mesiolingual twisted mesial carinae extending above the cervix line and braided enamel surface texture. Morphological examination with cladistics and morphometric analyses show that these isolated teeth exhibit the synapomorphies of basal tyrannosauroids, closely related to Guanlong wucaii and Proceratosaurus bradleyi from the Jurassic Period. This paper notes the first report of a basal tyrannosauroid in Southeast Asia as well as significantly contributes to our understanding of paleoecology of the Upper Jurassic Phu Kradung Formation and paleobiogeography of Tyrannosauroidea during the Jurassic Period.

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